Should we be surprised that Kyle St. Denis won't be in the lineup when the Rockets open the season September 25th against the Prince George Cougars?I'm not, but that has more to do with following this team closely and witnessing training camp workouts. When you don't see St. Denis anywhere, you know something is wrong. He is just too dynamic of a player not to notice him on the ice.
His absence was as visible as a guy with a bad toupee.
Even at the end of last season, you had to wonder if St. Denis could in fact rebound from a series of concussions suffered in his 19 year-old season. So when the press release was issued Thursday stating that he wouldn't be ready to start the season, few fans nor the media were caught off guard.
I loved watching him play, who didn't. You gravitate towards him because of his size. Despite standing just 5'7, his ability to out skate and dance around a much larger defenceman was fun to watch. While size shouldn't matter, it still does to a certain extent when it comes to the game of hockey. Rule changes over the years has allowed skilled, smaller players a chance to flourish, but when you are height challenged you need to be smart as the bigger players are not as slow-a-foot as they used to be.
If you have your head down or go into the corners and throw caution to the wind, you are going to get crunched, with your head being the most vulnerable.
It doesn't matter what type of helmet you are wearing.
Will St Denis return to the Rockets lineup this season? No one is certain. My hope is no matter what pressure he feels from family, friends and the media, St-D takes his time and returns only when he feels right.
As American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson was quoted as saying, "the first wealth is health".
Let's hope St. Denis remembers that his health is far more valuable than playing any sport... hockey included.
4 comments:
ah ouais, bonne choix fait par kyle. sa santé est ce qui est le plus importante ;)
il a encore un plan b, ce qui n'apporte aucune risque à lui. meme un plan c
Translation: good choice done by kyle. his health is what is the most important one;) it has again a plan b which does not
bring any risk to him.
Regan can you can compare the style of play of St. Denis to the style that Tyler Moseinko played? They are both small players but Tyler Mo was never as banged up as St. Denis seems to be, as far as I can recall anyhow!! Thanks.
In my opinion, the reason Mosey never got as banged up was because his line mate was 6'8" Kiel McLeod. If the last few years teams had a guy of that size and that intimidating, and had been St. D's line mate, we arn't having this conversation and Kyle isnt having to think about quitting hockey.
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